Near the corner table in the cafea middle-aged couple sit.they have finished their mealand they are each drinking a beer.it is 9 in the evening. she is smoking a cigarette.then he says something.she nods.then she speaks.he grins moves his hand.then they are quiet.through the blindsnext to their tableflashing red neonblinks on and off.

there is no war.there is no hell.

then he raises his beer bottle.

it is green.he lifts it to his lipstilts it.

it is a coronet.

her right elbow is on the tableand in her handshe holds the cigarettebetween her thumb andforefingerand as shewatches himthe streets outsideflower in the night.